HAREFORD'S CONFESSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5568, 18 May 1896, Page 2

HAREFORD'S CONFESSION.

"A MURDERER OR A LIAR." [Per Press Association.!

SYDNEY, Mat 16.

One of the Sydney evening papers continues to exploit Hareford's confession of murder in the Wellington district. The true name of Hareford is alleged to be Samuel Trudgeon, aged twenty-two, a native of Christchurch, who some time ago, while in custody at Greytown North on a charge of horse-stealing, broke out of his cell, and, taking the constable's horse, rode to Lower Hutt, eight mile 3 from Wellington, where he sold the animal. Then he eluded the vigilance of the Wellington policeand escaped. He is credited with stating that, being penniless and destitute, he called on Hawkins, who was murdered on the hills between Kaiwarra and Ngahauranga, and asked for something to eat. Hawkins gave him work at six shillings per week. A quarrel subsequently arose, and Hawkins struck him across the face with a stick. Hareford adds that he left the situation and determined to have revenge. With this view he sought and obtained work in Wellington, and when ho had saved a sufficient sum of money he bought a gun. Then, he says, one dark ; Saturday night he went into ambush on Hawkins's farm and shot him. The paper concludes: — "Whether Hareford is a murderer - or a liar is for the police te determine." (Hawkins was murdered on a Friday night.) ' WELLINGTON, May 18. If Trudgeon's story is correct, he would have been a boy of fifteen at the time of Hawking's murder. The police lay little stress on the confession, which they believe to have been made merely for the purpose of notoriety, and to escape another charge which is hanging over his head. Krs Hawkings knows of no one named Hareford or Trudgeon having been in her husband's employ. There was a lad named Marsden who was employed up to the end of February, but she remembers no casual hand previous to the murder. Mrs Chemis knows of no one named Trudgeon or Hareford working for Hawkings, but says that a boy in his employ had stated to Chemis his intention of doing for 'Hawkings when he became a man, on account of ill-treat-ment.